Woody's music is our music and will be played today

NEIGHBORS

July 01, 1994|By PEG ADAMARCZYK

Like many members of my generation, my first exposure to folk music came during the "Hootenanny" era.

The freedom and camaraderie of singing familiar songs to the acoustic accompaniment of guitars and banjos was an exhilarating experience. My folk music tastes expanded during my Bob Dylan/Joan Baez phase, ultimately leading to the purchase of a guitar. After a few lessons, my interest in actually playing the instrument faded, but not my enjoyment of the music.

During my Dylan phase, I became aware of Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, better known as Woody, one of the most famous of American folk singers. His name might not have been familiar to all, but his classic composition, "This Land is Your Land," certainly was.

To celebrate the anniversary of Woody's 82nd birthday, the World Folk Music Association will present a Woody Guthrie Tribute Concert at 5 p.m. July 16 at the Downs Park bayside amphitheater.

Congratulations to Crystal Ray, a sophomore at Archbishop Spalding High School, on capturing the title of "Ms. Junior Teen Baltimore" at a pageant in May.

More than 150 girls competed in categories such as poise, beauty and personality.

Her prizes include an all-expense paid trip to Orlando, Fla., in January to compete in the "Cities of America" pageant, a 3-foot-tall trophy, a modeling scholarship, photographic portfolio and a video of the competition.

Good Luck, Crystal. Remember the rest of us freezing in Pasadena while you're enjoying Disney World in January.